Spinal Cord Injury
Shelby Nichoson
Davenport University
Mcmg 411
Karen Robinson
December 17, 2017
Spinal Cord Injury
A spinal cord injury occurs when there is damage to the spinal cord that blocks the communication between the brain and the body. A spinal cord injury causes a person’s sensory, motor, and reflex responses to be affected. Typically, the higher on the spinal cord that an injury happens, the more severe the injury is. Spinal cord injuries most often will occur from traumatic injuries, such as motor vehicle accidents, falls, sports, violence, or diving into water that is shallow. Spinal cord injuries can also occur from non-traumatic injuries or illnesses, such as multiple sclerosis, inflammation of the spinal cord, or arthritis. (Spinal Cord Injury: Basic Facts, 2017).
There are different levels of injury that are associated with a spinal cord injury. The most severe spinal cord injury occurs if the high-cervical nerves, C1-C4, is damaged. This injury will result in paralysis of the arms, hands, trunk, and legs. The patient might not be able to breathe on their own, cough, or control their bodily functions. Their ability to speak can be impaired. An injury of C1-C4 will most likely require 24 hour personal care provided to the patient. (Levels of Injury, 2017).
The second level of spinal cord injury is when damage occurs to the low-cervical nerves, which are C3-C8. With an injury to C5, the patient can lift their arms and bend elbows, but are likely to have some or total paralysis of the wrists, hands, trunk, and legs. They typically can speak and use their diaphragm, but breathing is weak. A person with an injury to C5 will need assistance with activities of daily living. With an injury to C6, a patient will also have paralysis to the hands, trunk, and legs, but should be able to move their wrists. They can also speak and use their diaphragm, but breathing is still weak. They will likely have little to no control over their bodily functions but can manage with special equipment. With an injury to C7, a patient will be able to straighten their arms and will have normal movement of their shoulders. They will be able to complete most daily living activities on their own, but will need some assistance with more difficult activities. A patient with an injury to C7 will also have little to no control over their bodily functions but can manage with special equipment. With an injury to C8, a patient will be able to hold on to objects. They can also complete most daily living activities on their own, but will need some assistance with more difficult activities. With an injury to C8, they are still not able to control their bodily functions but are able to manage with special equipment. (Levels of Injury, 2017).
Injuries to the thoracic vertebrae occur in the mid-back. An injury to the thoracic nerves, T1-T5, will affect the muscles in the chest, mid-back, and abdomen. The arm and hand function is normal. An injury to T1-T5 will typically affect the trunk and legs. They will typically use a manual wheelchair and they can learn to drive a modified car. With an injury to T6-T12, a patient will have completely normal upper body movement. The legs and trunk are affected. A patient with this injury has an ability to have control and balance over their upper body while they are seated. Someone with this injury will not be able to control their bodily functions but can manage with special equipment. A patient with this injury can stand in a standing frame and some can learn to walk with braces. (Levels of Injury, 2017).
Injuries to the lumbar vertebrae occur in the lower back. An injury to the lumbar nerves, L1-L5, will result in some loss of function in the hips and legs. A patient with this injury will not be able to control their bodily functions, but can manage with special equipment. A patient with this injury will either need a wheelchair or they may be able to walk with braces. The final level of injury that can occur is in the sacral nerves, S1-S5. (Levels of Injury, 2017).
There are no known ways to reverse the damage that occurs because of a spinal cord injury. Researchers are constantly trying to find new treatments for individuals who experience a spinal cord injury. When medical attention occurs quickly after trauma to the head, back, or neck, this may help to minimize the effects of the injury. When emergency services arrive to the scene of a head, neck, or back trauma, they will immobilize the spine quickly using a neck brace. Health care providers will try to treat a spinal cord injury with surgery, traction, methylprednisolone, or even experimental treatments. If a patient needs surgery, the doctors will need to remove fluid or tissue that is pressing on the spinal cord, remove bone fragments or foreign objects, fuse spinal bones that are broken, or place spinal braces. Doctors might also try to treat a spinal cord injury with traction. This will help stabilize the spine and align it correctly. Doctors have also found that if they administer a steroid medication, methylprednisolone, within eight hours of the injury, some patients will begin to experience improvement. It will reduce the damage that occurred to nerve cells and helps decrease the amount of inflammation at the injury site. Researchers have also tried experimental treatments to halt cell death, control inflammation, and promote nerve repair or regeneration. (What are the treatments for a spinal cord injury (SCI?) n.d.). There are many different ways that health care professionals can help a patient who has suffered a spinal cord injury.
Individuals with a spinal cord injury will most likely benefit from rehabilitation. Physical therapy will help an individual with strengthening their muscles, communication, and their mobility. Occupational therapy will help an individual with their fine motor skills. Individuals will also be able to learn techniques for bladder and bowel management, as well as strategies for dealing with muscle spasticity and pain. Individuals will also learn how to exercise with a spinal cord injury and healthy diet options. People with a spinal cord injury are at a higher risk for becoming obese and developing diabetes. Individuals with a spinal cord injury would also benefit from vocational therapy, which would help them be able to get back to work. (What are the treatments for spinal cord injury (SCI)? n.d.). Rehabilitation would be very beneficial for an individual who has a spinal cord injury. It will help them be able to gain some of their independence back.
Researchers have found that individuals who have a spinal cord injury are more likely to experience a negative body image than those who do not have a spinal cord injury. (Bailey, Gammage, van Ingen, and Ditor, 2016). “Research has found that those who have a spinal cord injury experience struggles with conformity to masculine gender roles, negative changes to sexual self-esteem and overall functionality.” (Bailey, et al. 2016). Individuals with a spinal cord injury are also more likely to experience stigma from others. “Particularly, when a physical disability is visible to the public eye, in an extreme case, people may regard them as deviant, flawed, or undesirable.” (Bailey, et al. 2016). These experiences of stigma are likely to cause an individual to have an even poorer body image. (Bailey, et al. 2016). Overall, spinal cord injuries cause a majority of individuals to have a lower body image due to the stigma of their injury.
Adjusting to a spinal cord injury is different for everyone. At first, adjustment focuses on learning all about the injury. As an individual accepts and learns about their injury, they can begin to incorporate their new skills that they have learned into their life. Adjusting to a spinal cord injury will also involve regaining as much independence as possible. Once an individual regains their independence, they can begin to integrate themselves back into their normal life. Some aspects of their lives will change, such as relationships with family and friends, being more dependent on someone, and losing some of their old responsibilities, but gaining new ones at the same time. It is also common for an individual with a spinal cord injury to experience depression and anxiety as a result of their injury. These are normal reactions to the injury and the changes that will occur in their life as a result. Medication or counseling are typically the best ways to treat depression and anxiety for most people. It might also be beneficial for some individuals with a spinal cord injury to meet with a peer support group of others who have a spinal cord injury. This will help the individual be able to connect with someone who has the same injury as them and can help them learn new coping skills as their lives change due to their injury. (Boninger, Galang, Harrington, and Horton, 2017).
Spinal cord injuries can have a major impact on both the patient and their family. The individual with the injury will likely go through many different emotions after their injury, including denial, grief, adjustment, anger, and bargaining. The family members may go through these emotions as well. Family members should try to encourage the individual with the injury to continue going through therapy and to keep their spirits high. The family members can also help the individual by celebrating small achievements and major milestones that have been achieved. This will help build the individual’s confidence and self-esteem. Family members also need to be aware that there are some activities that they will not be able to do anymore. Family members should try to find new activities that the whole family can do together to help keep the individual’s spirits high since they might not be able to do some of their favorite activities anymore. A spinal cord injury may also cause the family and the individual with the injury to experience stress. This is normal to experience with a spinal cord injury. Family members should try to find ways to relieve stress so that this does not hinder the individual’s progress in recovery. (Family and Friends of Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Patients, n.d.). Overall, the impact that a spinal cord injury has on the individual and the family is huge. Families need to work together to help the individual work through their injury.
Since there is currently no way to reverse the damage to the spinal cord that occurs after an injury,
• Medical treatment needs
References
Bailey, K. A., Gammage, K. L., van Ingen, C., & Ditor, D. S. (2016). Managing the stigma: Exploring body image experiences and self-presentation among people with spinal cord injury. Health Psychology Open, 3(1), 2055102916650094. http://doi.org/10.1177/2055102916650094.
Boninger, M., Galang, G., Harrington, A., & Horton, J. (2017). Psychosocial Issues of Spinal Cord Injury: Adjusting to Disability. In UPMC. Retrieved December 13, 2017, from http://www.upmc.com/Services/rehab/rehab-institute/conditions/spinal-cord-injury/education-spinal-injury/Pages/psychological-issues.aspx
Family and Friends of Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Patients (n.d.). In Spinal Cord. Retrieved December 14, 2017, from https://www.spinalcord.com/family-friends-of-brain-spinal-cord-injury-patients
Levels of Injury (2017). In Shepherd Center. Retrieved December 13, 2017, from http://www.spinalinjury101.org/details/levels-of-injury.
Spinal Cord Injury: Basic Facts (2017). In Shepherd Center. Retrieved December 13, 2017, from http://www.spinalinjury101.org/details/levels-of-injury.
What are the treatments for spinal cord injury (SCI)? (n.d.). In National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Retrieved December 13, 2017, from https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/spinalinjury/conditioninfo/Pages/treatments.aspx.
http://www.spinalinjury101.org/details/levels-of-injury